Orphan Fruit...

[mdehners]

There's a scientific name forthe phenomenon but I'm having a Brian Fart at the moment. It's when a plant has a symbiotic relationship for a necessary part of it's Reproduction(Pollination, Seed-Spreading)with a now Extinct critter. Some are pretty obvious when you think about it. A big sign(Pun intended) is where once Megafauna once ate and pooped it. They may barely survive in the wild but only thrive where Humans now do their work. Trees that once fed their fruits to Mammoths are pretty easy. Look for a tree with spiny trunks and largish fruit with big seeds(or seedpods like the Kentucky Coffee Tree)so the plant makes sure only the fruit is taken. Others, like those for Giant Sloths are harder. Other than big seeds, finding them in fossilized Sloth Poop is pretty much the only way. If you like Avocadoes, toast the Giant Sloth;>!
It's actually a good mind exercise. Personally, every time I look at a Jackfruit or Durian(the latter always with horror that I'll have a peice offered to me;>)I wonder what once haunted those forests. 'Course, in those cases one is obvious...the Asian Elephant!
Cheers,
PAt